Ash-sifter.



UNITED STATES Eatented fiecember 22, 1905?.

PATENT OFFICE.

- ASH-SIFTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part-of Letters Patent No. 747,715, dated December22, 1903.

Application filed June '29, 1903.

semi No. 16316 52; (No model.) 1

emptied.

Other objects of theinvention will appear from the following detaileddescription.

The invention consists generally in various constructions andcombinations, all as here inafter described, and particularly pointedout in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure1 is a verti cal section of an ash-sifter box and cylinder embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the cylinder removed from the box.Fig. 3 is a perspective of the cylinder with the cover removed. Fig. 4is a perspective of the cover, and Fig. 5 is a detail section of one ofthe locking devices for securing the cover of the cylinder to the mainportion thereof.

In the drawings, 2' represents a box, rectangular in form, having aremovable top portion 3, that forms a tight joint with the upper edgesof the box and prevents the escape of dust from the ashes during theoperation of sifting. The upper portion of the box is readily removablewhen itis desired to fill the cylinder or em ptyit and the box. Thesifting-cylinder which I prefer toprovide is divided longitudinallyatone side of its center into two sections, thelarger section formingareceptacle wherein the ashes to be sifted are deposited and the othersection forming a cover to close the opening in the larger sectionduring the operation of sifting. The

larger receptacle or section comprises heads 4, preferably of wood,connected at intervals by bars 5, which, with said heads, form askeleton frame for the wire-screen covering 6. The edges of this screenat the ends of the cylinder are covered and protected by hoop-like bands7, secured by any suitable squared end 9,'that extends through the wallof the box on one side and is provided with an operating-crank 10. Thesmaller cylindersection, forming'the cover for the cylinder, comprisessegment-like heads 11, connected by a wire-screen covering 12, that isinclosed by a metallic frame consisting of curved bands 13, secured tothe curved peripheral edges'of the heads-ll and connected at their endsby straps 14, that depend below the heads 11 and are adapted to lap downover the sides of the ash-receptacle and form a comparatively tightjoint therewith. I also prefer to provide flanges 15 on theinner'surfaces of the heads 11, that depend within the ash-receptacleand cover the joints between the heads 4 and 11 when the sections areplaced together. Any suitable means may be provided for securing thesections of the cylinder together; but I prefer to provide a fasteningdevice at each end of the cylinder consisting of a casing 16, secured oneach head land having an inwardly-ex,

tending lug 17, that'is adapt-ed to engage the cam-leverisurface 18,provided on a plate 19 Within a casing 20. The casing 20 is secured tothe head 11 at each end of the smaller section of the cylinder, and anoperating-lever 21 permits the person using the device to swing theplate 19 on its pivot and move the cam-surface 18 into engagement withthe lug 17 or out of engagement'therewith. This camleverdevice has adrawing action when the parts are brought together and tends to draw thetwo sections of the cylinder into close contactwith each other andinsure a comparatively tight joint between them and prevent anypossibility of theirbecoming separated during the operation of sifting.As soon as the contents of the cylinder have been thoroughly sifted,the. operator by manipulating the lovers 21 can easily disengage thesections and remove the smaller one. The larger section can then bereadily detached from its support and emptied of its contents, refilled,and the sifting operation repeated. l I have found it of great advantageto hav the cover portion of the cylinder entirely removab1e,as theash-receptacle can be emptied much more readily than where a hingedcover is employed that is always in the Way and is frequently twisted ortorn from its hinges when the cylinder is being emptied.

I claim as my invention- In an ash-sitter, a cylinder comprising twoseparable sections or members formed by dividing the cylinderlongitudinally on one side of its center, each section comprising twoheads, and a wirenetting connecting the same, the smaller section actingas a cover for the opening in the larger section, flanges provided onsaid smaller section to lap down past the edges of the opening in saidlarger section and form a comparatively close joint therewith, andcam-lever devices provided on the heads of said sections and arranged todraw up their contacting edges and lock them snugly together.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of June,1903.

GEORGE N. HOUGI-ITON.

In presence of- RICHARD PAUL, S. V. GRIFFIN.

